METHOD OF PRODUCING CARBOXYMETHYLATED BETA-1,3-GLUCANS

• Main Authors: TAKUMA SASAKI,JP, YUKIO SUGINO,JP
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.06.1983
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; DERIVATIVES THEREOF; ENZYMOLOGY; FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIREDCHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERSFROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; NUCLEIC ACIDS; NUCLEOSIDES; NUCLEOTIDES; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; POLYSACCHARIDES; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES; SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS ORMEDICINAL PREPARATIONS; SPIRITS; SUGARS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; VINEGAR; WINE

It has been found that water-insoluble, thermogelable beta -1,3-glucan produced by microorganisms, lower polymers obtainable upon partial hydrolysis of the glucan or, carboxymethylated derivatives of said glucan or of said lower polymers are useful for inhibiting growth of tumors in a warm-blooded animal. The inhibitory activity against various tumors of these polysaccharides is very strong and significant whenever administered to warm-blooded animals from the early to very late stage of tumor progression or even when administered prior to plantation of tumors. The carboxymethylated derivatives above-mentioned are novel water-soluble compounds which can be produced by carboxymethylation of said glucan and partial hydrolyzate thereof.